News Brief

(IsraelNN.com) After years of delays, the Ministries of Finance and National Infrastructures will publish the tender for the Negev solar power plant at Ashelim.  It will be Israel's first solar power plant.

The tender is for the construction of two power stations that will generate 250 megawatts of electricity, approximately 2.5 percent of Israel's power production.  The project is estimated to cost $300 million, with bidders competing for the lowest price per kilowatt/hour.  The lowest current price for solar energy is $0.12-0.15 per kw/h, compared to $0.05-0.06 per kw/h generated by fossil fuels. While solar energy is more expensive to generate, it is expected to save the state in air pollution costs, and has greater potential for improvement.

The winner of the tender will have the right to produce the energy, and will acquire free rights to the 4,000 dunam (1,000 acre) site. Minister of National Infrastructures Benjamin Ben-Eliezer said that construction of the Ashelim solar power station is a step toward meeting the government's target of generating 10% of Israel's electricity production from renewable sources by 2020.